Word-displaying signaling device for automobile cars



c. A. SWANK.

WORD DISPLAYING SIGNALING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE CARS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 21, 1919. v

1 ,338,Q4:7. Patented Apr-v 27, 1920.

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WORD DISPLAYING SIGNALING DEVICE FM AUTOMOBILE CARS. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 21, 1919.

1,338,047. I Patented Apr. 27,1920.

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l/VVEN TOR 961 1 25. A rIm/vn UNITE it CLIFFORD A. SWANK, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

wonn-nrsrnarme sreivlimne nnvrcn roa AUTOMOBILE CARS.

To all whom it may 00mm;

Be it known that I, Cnirronn A. SWANK, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented a new and useful l ord-Displaying Signaling Device for Automotive (Jars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a word displaying stop or turn signaling device for automotive ears, and the objects of my invention are First: To provide a signaling device adapted to enable a driver to signal other traffic, that he is about to stop or turn his car. I

Second: To provide a signaling device that can be operated from the drivers seat of an automobile and that is arranged to project from the side supports of the wind shield of an automobile, or may be mounted on other suitable support or side or rear of car.

Third: To provide a double worded sign that will signal in the rear of the car provided with my signaling sign and also the cars coming toward the car showing my signals.

Fourth: To provide a simple and practical substantially inexpensive stop or turn signaling device that can be operated by hand or electromagnetic power.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of the signaling device, the slats being turned to display the word Stop. 7 i

Fig. 2 is a similar view, the near glass plate, and its clamping frame being removed, the slats being in a neutral position, or in such position that no. signal word is displayed.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 8-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow, X.

Fig. 1 is a similar sectional view on the line 1-4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow Y.

Fig. 5 is a's'ectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a detail end View, showing the spring by which the slats are returned to a neutral position when released from display ing either'the st'opl or turn signal.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of one end por- Specification of Letters Patent.

atente'd Apr. 27, 1920.

Application filed October 21, 1919. Serial No. 332,241.

tion of the device showing the operating shaft and its connection with one of the slats, the slat returning spring and the arm which engages the same.

Similar letters of reference refer to similarparts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

The numeral 1 designates a casing that has closed narrow side edge portions 2, and 3, and alsoend portions 1, and 5, upon the outside edges of which are secured narrow frames 6, and 7. V

The frames 6 and 7 -support panes of glass 8, and 9, which extend over and form the opposite sides of the casing.

These panes of glass are secured in position by the frames 6 and 7, which clamp them against cross pieces 11, and 12, by screws 10.

The plate 11 is spaced a slight distance from the end 5, ofthe casing, and is secured thereto by screws 11, but the plate 12, is placed at a suflicient distance from the end l, toleavea space for other parts of the sign which will be presently described.

A stem 15, is rotatably mounted in the end 41-, of the casing and extends through and is rotatively mounted ina long bearing casing 18, which is provided with depending flanges 14, one of which is provided with a set screw, 14.

The flanges 14:, are arranged to straddle the upper edge of one side of the car, or a suitable support on the car, and the set screw enables the signaling device to be rigidly secured to its support, and in this position projects laterally outward over the side of the automobile in plain view of the occupants of a car or cars in the rear of the sign.

The inner'end of the stem 15, is formed with a square, axial hole in which fits a squared trunnion 16, that forms the pivotalsupport of one of the plates 17, the opposite end of which is also provided with a trunnion 18, that is pivotally mounted in a bearing aperture in the cross plate 11, at the opposite end of and within the casing.

A crank lever 19, is secured on the trunnion 16', adjacent to the cross plate 12, and a coiled spring 20, is also mounted on the trunnion 16, and its free ends 21, that extend from the opposite ends of its coiled portion and are under tension, bear against the opposite sides of a stop 22, with resilient and quite close to it, a connecting pressure. The stop pin is secured to the fixed cross plate 12, and the ends 2i of the spring, are engaged by .an offset end 23, of the lever 19.

The ends 21, of the spring 20, are adapted to be engaged alternately by the end 23, of the lever 19, as the stem 15, is turned about a quarter of its full revolution in either direction by a reverse oscillating movement which will be presently described.

' placed, that also have short trunnions 30,

which are pivotally mounted in apertures formed in the cross bar 12, to form bearings for them, and the opposite ends of each of these blades 29, are provided with a trunnion 35, that are mounted in suitable bear ing holes formed in the opposite cross bar 11, and all of these pivotally mounted swinging plates are positioned at equal distances apart and they are of a width that allows them to overlap half the width of each blade when they are turned half way around in a semicircle in either direction until they all stand in a flat plane relative to each other,

in which position they have the appearance of a fiat thin partition extending across the center of the length of the casing oil? the signaling device. These pivotally swinging blades are preferably made of thin metal,

but they can be made of any suitable material.

The connecting rod 27, that is pivoted to the trunnion 28, of the blade 17, is also pro-' vided with bearing apertures that it over the trunnions 28, of the blades 29, conse quently all of the swinging plates are pivotally attached to the connecting rod 27, the

ends of which do not extend to the inside walls of the adjacent side edges 01" the casing, consequently when the stem 15, is partially rotated in either direction through a half of a revolution, the center swinging plate 17, through the medium of its eccentric ftrunnion 28, and the free connecting rod 27,

which is mounted on the eccentrically positioned trunnions 28, of the other swinging plates 29, are reciprocated with an oscillating swinging movement from an open position, as shown in Fig. 1, to a closed or flat position on either side of their open position by this connecting rod when the stem is turned rotatively about a half of a revolu-.

tion in either directiomthe engagement of the blades one agalnst the other preventing the swinging plates from being turned more than a quarter of a rotative movement from the wide open position of the swinging plates relative to each other.

The steinle, is locked in the two different opposite positions in which its words Stop ant Turn are displayed, by a pin 81 that is mounted in an aperture 32, that is formed in the stems bearing bracket 13," directly over the stem 15, which is provided with a hole 38, into one or the other end of which the pin 31, is sprung and held by a spring 3 The pin i'lts slidably in a gland 35, that is threaded into the aperture 32, which is threaded to receive it, and the outer end of the gland is provided with a knurled head portion that enables the gland to be adjustably screwed into its threaded aperture in the bracket. This gland is provided with an enlarged aperture in its inner end around the aperture the locking pin passes through,

'in which one end 01 the spring is placed,

and which acts as a housing for it. The oppesite end oi the spring 84, bears against a collar 36, that is formed on the inner end of the pin and forces it with a constant resilient pressure into the hole 33, in the stem. The outsioe end of the pin 31, is provided with a knurled disk 37, that enables it to be grasped by the hand "of an operator and pulled out to release it from the hole 33, in the stem.

@n both sides of the swinging plates when they are turned or swung down into a flat position in one direction of their quarter part rotary turning movement, the word Stop painted or otherwise placed. Then when the plates are turned down the word Turn is painted or otherwise placed also on both or opposite sides, so that both words are visible from opposite sides of the sign, both from the rear or the car on which my sign is placed, and also from the front of the car by automobiles coining toward the car carrying my double worded and displaying signal.

The outside end of the stem 1S with a hand grasping knob 38, that is used by the chautl'eur to turn the stem 15, to

display the Stop and Turn words. The peration of my improved Stop and'Turn word signaling device is as follows:

llhcn the driver of a car provided with r Y ing device desires to turn either to the right or left, he grasps t knob 38 nd turns the same in the recu red din .on until the spring controlled l, s igs into the hole 33, of the 145, an: locks the same against rotation The turning oi? the stem 15, swings the plates 29, into an overlapping position, .'el y the word Turn is dis p nreach side of the signaling 'd i be seen both from thefrontj ,by the chrivers of cars provided ,ction, and thereby notitying them that the signaling car will turn at the approaching corner. Then when he has turned the corner he grasps the hand grasping disk of the locking pin and pulls its inner end out of the hole in the stem, which will instantly release the stem and then coiled spring 20, which was moved under additional tension by the engagement and movement of it by the end 23, of the crank lever will throw the swinging plates backward into their non-word for position. The signal word Stop is thrown into plain sight and released and moves out of si ht in the same way, and is a signal to cars following close behind him that he is going to stop.

My invention provides a positive and plainly visible Turn and Stop word signaling device "for automobiles that can be plainly seen for a suliicient distance in the day time to approaching cars, and at night it can be illuminated to show the words Turn and Stop by one or more suitably disposed electric lights placed inside of the casing and electrically connected to a battery or a generator as is understood. The lighting feature, however, not shown, as it is common to illuminate such signal devices.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Lettors Patent, is:

l. A stop and turn sign for automobiles comprising a casing provided with a plurality of? swinging plates with the words Stop and Turn appearing thereon and means including a stem for turning said plates to display or not to display said words, said plates having the word Stop on both sides of said plates when turned in one direction and the word Turn on both sides when turned in the opposite direction, for normally holding sair plates in a non-sign displaying position, and means for locking said plates in the Turn and Stop sign word displayi. positions, said non-sign displaying position of said plates being controlled by a stop in said casing, a spring arranged to engage the opposite sides of said stop, and means including a stem arranged to turn said plates and a crank lever secured to said stem and arranged to engage saidspring, s id plates being oscillatingly mounted at a? eir opposite ends, stem secured to one of said plates, an eccentrically or laterally positioned trunnion on each plate at one side ot' the pivotal trunnion of each plate, and a connecting rod pivotally connected to the eccentrically positioned trunnions of all of said plates, and arranged to move with them.

sop and turn sign for automobiles a casing provided with a plunging plates with the wor appearing position into turned on one Stop and Turn appearing thereon, and means including a stem for turning said plates to display or not to display said words, said stem having a recess therein, and a hand operated spring controlled pin adapted to engage said recess to lock said plates in signaling position.

3. l he combination the casing provided with the sign word plates arranged to swing from their separated edge viewing their flat side displaying position and having their opposite sides provided with the word Stop when si le displaying direction, and with the were ,Turn when turned to their opposite side position, with means including a bracket arranged to secure said casing to the side portionot' an automobile, the stem extending through aid bracket provided with a hand knob on its outer end, means at its inner end including one 01 said sign plates and a connecting rod attached to all oi said plates for partially rotating them from their edge view position into their sign word displaying position.

4-. The combination or the casing rovided with the sign word plates arran eiil to swing from their separated edge viewing appearing position into their fiat side in playing position and having their opposite sides provided with the word Stop when turned on one side displaying direction, and with the word Turn when turned in their opposite side position, with means inclu-ahng a bracket arranged to secure said casing to the side portion of an automobile, the stem extending through said bracket provided with a hand knob at its outer end, means at its inner end including one of said sign plates and-a connecting rod attached to all of said plates for partially rotating them from their edge view position into their sign word displaying position, said stem being provided with a hole, a hand operating pin extending through said bracket to enter said hole, and a spring to hold said pin in engagement with said stem and its hole, said hole and pin being arranged. to

lock said plates in their sign word displaying positionsfor predetermined periods of time, and then released by withdrawing said pin from said notch into a non-sign word displaying position.

5. The combination of the casing pro vided with the sign word plates arranged to swing from their separated edge viewing appearing position into their fiat side displaying position, and having their opposite sides provided with the word Stop when turned on one side displaying direction, and with the word Turn when turned in their opposite side position, with means including a bracket arranged to secure said casing to the wind shield portion of an automobile, the stem extending through said bracket provided with a hand knob on its outer end, means at its inner end including one or said sign plates and a connecting rod attached to all. of said plates for partially rotating them from their edge view position into their sign word displaying position, said stem being provided with a notch, a hand opcrating pin extending through said bracket to enter said notch, and a spring to hold said pin in engagement with said stem and notch, said notch and pin being arranged to lock said plates in their sign word displaying position for predetermined periods of time, and then released by withdrawing said pin from said notch into a non-sign word displaying position, said non-sign displaying positionof said plates being controlled by a stop in said casing, a spring arranged to engage the opposite sides of said stop, and means including a stem arranged to turn said plates and a crank lever secured to said stern and arranged to engage said spring.

6. In a signaling device of the character described, a casing, a plurality of blades having central trnnnions on their opposite ends, and bearing supports for said trunnions, trunnions on said blades at one end, and on one side of the central trunnions, a connecting bar in pivotal engagement with the latter trnnnions, a coil spring on the central trunnion of one of said blades, the ends of which are extended, a stop against which the ends of said spring bear, a lever rigidly mounted on the said central trunnion, having a right angled projection, which extends in between the ends of said spring, and means for turning said trunnion whereby all. of said blades are turned in unison by said connecting bar, said blades being arranged to overlap when turned, a

signal word, displayed on each side of said overlapping blades, and spring controlled means for holding the blades in signaling position.

'7. In a signaling device of the character described, a casing having bearing plates in its opposite ends, longitudinally arranged blades pivotally mounted in said bearing plates, means connecting said blades whereby they turnin unison, a turning red connected with one of said blades, said blades being adapted to overlap half their widths, when turned in either direction, a signal word displayed on each side of the overlapping plates when turned in one direction, a different signal word on each side of said overlapping plates when turned in the opposite direction, a spring controlled pin for engaging the turning rod atthe limit of its movement in either direction, a spring for restoring the blades to a non-signaling position, and means for actuating said turning rod.

In testimony whereof I a'l'liX my signature in presence or two witnesses. CLIFFQRD A. Sl'l 'i KNK. I Vitnesses G. SARenN'r ELLIo'r'r, ELIZABETH SMITH. 

